Elton John biopic 'Rocketman' to premiere at Cannes

AP Photo, Taron Egerton, No available, File-This April 4, 2019, file photo shows Taron Egerton, who plays singer Elton John in the upcoming film "Rocketman," discussing the film during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas. The biopic will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month. “Rocketman” will screen May 16 at the French Riviera festival, two weeks before it’s to be released in the United States. Paramount Pictures on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, confirmed the premiere, which Variety first reported. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Elton John biopic “Rocketman” will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

“Rocketman” will screen May 16 at the French Riviera festival, two weeks before it’s to be released in the United States. Paramount Pictures on Tuesday confirmed the premiere, which Variety first reported.

The film stars Taron Egerton as the British singer and pianist. It’s directed by Dexter Fletcher, who stepped in to helm the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” after Bryan Singer was fired. “Rocketman” is more of a musical-biopic hybrid. John is himself a producer on the movie.

The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival runs May 14-25. Its full slate is to be announced Thursday. As previously announced, Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy “The Dead Don’t Die” will open the festival.